Chocolate loves, we understand your temptation towards dark chocolate, a mouth-watering blend of cocoa with bittersweet flavour. When it comes to veganism, you might be confused about the question, “Is dark chocolate vegan?”
Well, most dark chocolates are vegan if they do not contain certain non-vegan ingredients. But, what are these non-vegan ingredients and how to choose vegan dark chocolate? Let’s explore right away!
Is Dark Chocolate Vegan?
Traditionally, dark chocolates are a perfect blend of cocoa, cocoa butter, and sugar. If sugar in dark chocolate is vegan (obtained from sugar cane and manufactured separately to avoid cross-contamination), most dark chocolates are vegan (unlike white chocolates).
However, some brands may add milk or butter to dark chocolate, making the final product non-vegan. Moreover, some brands add lecithin to dark chocolates. If the lecithin is obtained from soy, it is vegan. Otherwise, animal-derived lecithin also makes dark chocolates non-vegan.
How to Identify Vegan Dark Chocolate?
We have created a list of ingredients that make dark chocolate non-vegan. Before purchasing any dark chocolate, look for a vegan label and read the list of ingredients carefully.
While choosing vegan dark chocolate, avoid chocolates with these ingredients:
Is Vegan Dark Chocolate Healthy?
Vegan dark chocolates not only provide environmental sustainability and promote ethical farming practices but also have high nutritive value. These are packed with minerals, vitamins, copper, manganese, iron, and calcium.
Vegan dark chocolates contain flavonoids and polyphenols that possess antioxidant properties. These are also suitable for diabetics if they are sugar-free. Moreover, they improve heart heart, brain functioning, and insulin sensitivity.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) claims that vegan dark chocolate is listed as a functional food due to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic effects. Additionally, it also improves the lipid profile of individuals due to low fat content.
Remember, moderation is important. Excessive intake might lead to palpitations, nausea, weight gain, and sleeplessness.
How To Make Vegan Dark Chocolate At Home:
Main Ingredients
- Cocoa powder
- Cocoa butter 1 cup (chopped)
- Sweetener (e.g., maple syrup, agave nectar)
Optional Add-ins
- Nuts
- dried fruits
- Sea salt,
- vanilla extract
- Vegan Margarine (optional)
Equipment Required:
- Double boiler
- Silicone molds
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
Recipe:
- Measure all these main ingredients accurately to ensure the perfect balance between sweet and bitter. Vegan dark chocolates should not be too sweet or too bitter.
- Melt cocoa butter in the double boiler, keep stirring it continuously for a smooth texture.
- Gradually start whisking in cocoa powder and your chosen sweetener until the ingredients are fully mixed.
- Add vanilla extract, one pinch of salt, dried fruits or any add-in you want.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into silicone molds and let it set in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
You can confidently use this homemade vegan dark chocolate with various vegan dishes, such as Oreo and vegan banana bread.
Which Dark Chocolates are Vegan? Vegan Brands to Try:
It would be unfair to keep you uninformed about vegan dark chocolate brands. If you’re in a hurry or simply don’t want to prepare vegan dark chocolates at home, you can buy these top 20 vegan-friendly dark chocolates:
- Lindt Excellence 70% Dark Chocolate
- Absolute Black 100% Cocoa
- Spice it up Dark Chocolate
- Royal Mint Dark Chocolate
- FitzRoy 74% Dark Chocolate
- Ghirardelli 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate
- Theo 70% chocolate
- Endangered Species 70% Cocoa Dark chocolate
- Divine Smooth Dark Chocolate with Raspberries
- Tcho Holy Fudge
- Taza 70% Dark Chocolate
- Late Champions Vegan Chocolate Truffles
- Green and Black’s Organic Dark Chocolate
- Trader Joe’s The Dark Chocolate Lovers
- Simple truth Organic 85% Cacao Dark chocolate
- Beyond Good 85% Cocoa
- Tonny’s Chocolonely
- Chocolove Extra Strong Dark Chocolate
- Lily’s extra dark chocolate style bar
- Alter Eco Raspberry Blackout
Answering Your Questions:
Is 70% dark chocolate dairy free?
Dark chocolates with 70% or above cocoa percentage are vegan-friendly. They usually contain cocoa beans, sugar ( or alternatives like agave), soy lecithin, and cocoa butter. If the label claims it is vegan, it will be dairy-free.
Is all dark chocolate dairy-free?
Most dark chocolates are dairy-free except for a few brands that add milk and dairy products. Usually, dark chocolates contain plant-based cocoa beans, cocoa butter, and sugar. It is better to check labels before purchasing vegan dark chocolate.
Is 90% dark chocolate vegan?
Lindt 90% dark is vegan as it is made up of cocoa mass (90%), low-fat cocoa powder, cocoa butter, vanilla extract, salt, and sugar.
Is Lindt 70 dark chocolate vegan?
Yes, Lindt 70% dark chocolate is vegan. It is free of dairy and animal-derived products. Lindt 70%, 85%, 90%, and Lindt 100% dark chocolate are vegan. Lindt uses oat and almond milk to replace animal milk in dark chocolates, making them a good choice for vegans.
Is Ferrero Rocher Dark Chocolate Dairy Free?
No, Ferrero Rocher is not vegan-friendly. It contains milk and butter obtained from animals. It also contains gluten.
Is Aldi dark chocolate vegan?
Not all flavours of Aldi dark chocolate are vegan. Only Moser Roth Vegan Classic Cocoa bar is vegan and manufactured according to the needs of vegans. Other flavours contain Milk and animal-derived ingredients.
Is Ghirardelli dark chocolate vegan?
Only a few Ghirardelli dark chocolates are entirely vegan and plant-based, but most are not vegan. All flavours of Ghirardelli contain non-vegan ingredients like whole milk powder, condensed milk, soy lecithin, butter, and milk cream, except 72% Cacao Twilight Bar. This one is the only vegan option from this brand.
Is Tesco dark chocolate vegan?
Tesco dark chocolate is vegan and free of animal products. Its ingredients are powdered cocoa beans, soy, cocoa butter, sugar, and wheat flour. All these have a plant-based origin.
Is Bournville dark chocolate vegan?
Bournville dark chocolate is “not” vegan. It has skimmed milk powder that is obtained from animals. Previously, it was vegan. Since they added milk to their vegan chocolate, it has been labelled non-vegan.
Is Hershey’s dark chocolate vegan?
Hershey’s dark chocolate is not vegan. It is made with 45% cocoa, milk, and animal fat from milk, which makes it non-vegan. It does not offer plant-based milks like oat milk or almond milk. You should look for vegan dark chocolates containing plant-based milk.
Is Dove dark chocolate vegan?
No Dove Dark is not vegan-friendly dark chocolate. It contains milk fat, which is obviously not suitable for vegans.
Vegan Dark Chocolate Recipe
Materials
- 1 cup Cocoa butter chopped
- 2/3 cup Cocoa powder
- 6-8 tbsp Maple syrup
- 1-2 tbsp Vanilla extract
- 1/8 tbsp Pink salt
Instructions
- Create a double boiler–Get a pot, fill it with water, and put a bowl in the pot. Let it heat on medium to low flame.
- Melt down the cocoa butter into that bowl.
- Stabilize the bowl, and slowly add cocoa powder, pink salt, vanilla extract, and maple syrup.
- Whisk all the ingredients well, but stay careful of hot chocolate.
- Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into the molds.
- Let it set at the temperature and then fridge it for 2 hours.
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